SALT LAKE CITY - Patagonia, the outdoor clothing company, has committed to Blue Sky renewable energy from Rocky Mountain Power. Located at 2292 S. Highland Drive in Salt Lake City, Patagonia will purchase 10 blocks of Blue Sky wind energy per month, which offsets 12 tons of carbon dioxide emissions each year. The move has the environmental benefit of planting 5 acres of trees or not driving 25,710 miles. 

"It's part of our company ethic to use products and processes that cause the least harm to the environment, and Blue Sky renewable energy fits in well with this philosophy," said Jen Rapp, Patagonia spokesperson, "We evaluate raw materials, invest in innovative technologies, rigorously police our waste and use a portion of our sales to support groups working to make a real difference. We believe in using business to inspire solutions to the environmental crisis."

Rocky Mountain Power's Blue Sky program gives both large and small customers a way to increase the demand for clean, renewable wind energy and to take advantage of its environmental benefits. It is sold in 100 kilowatt-hour increments, called blocks, for $1.95 per block per month in addition to a customer's regular bill.

Wind is an attractive form of energy generation because it helps reduce greenhouse-gas emissions. One block of Blue Sky has the same environmental benefit of either planting about a half acre of trees or not driving 2,500 miles. Enrollment is optional, and customers can increase their participation or withdraw at any time.

Rocky Mountain Power is the state's largest electric utility, providing safe, reliable and low-cost electric service to about 740,000 Utah customers. The United States Department of Energy ranked Utah Power's Blue Sky program second in the nation for customers enrolled in a renewable power program and third in the amount of renewable power sold. In Utah, more than 17,000 residential and business customers participate. More than 45,000 customers buy Blue Sky in the Western United States.

For more information or to sign up for Blue Sky, call 800-842-8458 or e-mail  bluesky@pacificorp.com. Customers can sign up online at  www.rockymtnpower.net/bluesky. 

Patagonia, with sales last year of $260M, is noted internationally for its commitment to product quality and environmental activism.  Its Environmental Grants Program has contributed over $25M to grassroots environmental activists since the program began in 1985, and its Environmental Internship Program allows employees to work for environmental groups while receiving their full paycheck.  Incorporating environmental responsibility in to product development, the company has, since 1996, used only organically-grown cotton in its clothing line, and is noted world-wide for using recycled soda bottles in many of its polyester fleece garments.